WSF weekly report | Restoration update, new baby at Bainbridge landing

||| FROM NICOLE MCINTOSH for WASHINGTON STATE FERRIES ||| 

Service restoration update

Our latest Service Restoration Plan (PDF 794KB) Progress Report (PDF 634KB) shows that we’re maintaining at least 95% reliability on our restored routes. Just like prior to the pandemic, there are still some sailing cancellations due to crewing or vessel repairs. Our Fauntleroy/Vashon/ Southworth route is next in line for restoration. Unfortunately, we don’t have the crewing necessary to start trialing pre-pandemic three-boat weekday service there just yet. We now anticipate a trial to begin in May.

Nine new hires train in life-saving appliances as part of our Engine New Employee Orientation late last month. They’re now working out in the fleet!

As outlined in our recent timeline for restoring the remaining routes (PDF 1MB), we plan to restore partial two-boat service on our Seattle/Bremerton run before the start of summer by adding additional morning and midday sailings. We anticipate having crewing available to restore the route to full two-boat service in October. We’re aiming to trial two-boat service on our Port Townsend/Coupeville route in spring 2024.

Our first group of new terminal employees in 2023. They’re now working across our system! We just wrapped up training this year’s second class.

Workforce development is also key to service restoration. We currently have 12 engine room employees at the Calhoon MEBA Engineering School attending a two-week electrical troubleshooting course. Chief Engineer Wil Salmonson and Assistant Engineer TJ Knutson are seen here troubleshooting a motor controller.

Oh baby!

There was a good – and unusual – reason for a slight delay in the departure of a Bainbridge to Seattle morning commute sailing last week. A passenger alerted our Bainbridge terminal staff that his wife was in labor while they were parked in one of the holding lanes. Our employees leapt into action by immediately contacting and coordinating with emergency medical technicians and our vessel crews. Crews held up our 7:55 a.m. departure, so an ambulance with the new family could board first and exit first in Seattle to head to Swedish Medical Center. Congratulations to the new mom and dad and a ferry happy birthday to their baby!

A baby was born in the holding lanes at our Bainbridge terminal on April 6. Paramedics arrived soon after to transport mom, dad and baby aboard our ferry to Seattle.

Assisting SWAT team off Vashon Island

From babies being born to famous celebrities, our employees have seen it all. Our Vashon terminal staff and vessel crews on our “Triangle” route had a busy morning late last month coordinating transport for a large SWAT team off the island. This is one of many scenarios that show what our frontline workers do to ensure emergency responders get where they need to go.

SWAT team at our Vashon terminal after a successful mission on the island on the morning of March 30.

Joint agency security drill at Port Townsend terminal

Our security team regularly holds drills with law enforcement to be prepared for a variety of incidents. During a tidal cancellation last month on our Port Townsend/Coupeville route, Fleet and Facility Security Officers David Jokinen and John Litzenberger led a joint security drill involving our crew aboard Kennewick, terminal staff, the Port Townsend Police Department and Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department. The drill involved a passenger refusing to disembark the vessel during a security sweep at Port Townsend. Our employees worked to identify, investigate and respond to the situation. The vessel crew simulated a 911 call and coordinated law enforcement access with terminal staff. Officers responded to the scene and coordinated with our employees to successfully deescalate the situation and assist the individual with leaving the vessel. Thank you to all who participated in the drill. The safety of our employees and customers is our top priority!

Where’s Patty?

Assistant Secretary Patty Rubstello is currently going through two weeks of our Deck New Employee Orientation. All our deck crews must pass this intensive training to work on our vessels as an ordinary sailor. The orientation includes firefighting, personal safety and survival, classroom time and job duty familiarization out in our fleet. Her goal is to experience firsthand what it’s like to work out in the fleet, and to learn more about the extraordinary training that our crews have. Patty will be back with our May 4 edition.